Campus News

Alumni Association Presents Fenlon Awards

Posted: April 29th, 2003

April 28, 2003FENLON LEGACY – Philip Ellison and Tiffany Jastorff with LSSU Director of Career and Employment Services Paul Fenlon, the son of charter LSSU trustee Judge James Fenlon, for whom the Fenlon award is named. (Photo by John Shibley)

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The LSSU Alumni Association has named Phil Ellison, Hemlock, and Tiffany Jastorff, Pierre, S.D., as the recipients of the 2003 Judge James Fenlon Award for Student Leadership.

Ellison, a sophomore, is a resident assistant in Brady Hall and was only the second freshman selected to serve in that capacity. He is involved in the Brady Hall government and has been active in most campus events and programs.

Listeners to WLSO, the LSSU student radio station, are familiar with his soothing tones as a DJ. Ellison is also a part of the LSSU web team and continues to work with the Alumni Association and Foundation in maintaining those pages in the website. Until recently, he served as chief justice of the Student Judiciary Board.

Ellison is pursuing a business administration degree and also owns and operates Quagmire Solutions, a web service company. He volunteers in his community as a member of the Hemlock Service Advisory Learning Community. He has also served as a grant reviewer for the State of Michigan Board of Education.

In a letter of reference supporting Ellison, one nominator writes, "Phil brings an integrity, calmness and concern for those he serves as a resident assistant. He is involved in campus and has a deep commitment to this University. There is no doubt that he is an excellent candidate for this award."

Ellison is the son of Terry and Donna Ellison.

Tiffany Jastorff, a junior, is a psychology major who plans on attending graduate school and completing a doctorate in clinical psychology. She has been active on campus, including two years as resident assistant in the LSSU campus housing system, a peer tutor and student manager in the Learning Center, a leader in Student Alumni Involved for Lake State (SAILS) and secretary and member of the executive committee at Anchor House.

A member of Alpha Chi Honor Society, she is an honor student who has made the dean's list in each of her six semesters at LSSU. She was recently named the Association for Student Advancement Programs District 5 Outstanding Student Leader for her work in the association and at LSSU. She has been a member of the Great Lake State Week and Weekend committee in each of her three years at LSSU, holding several chair positions.

In a letter supporting her nomination, Steve Person Ph.D., LSSU professor of biology, wrote "My understanding is that Judge Fenlon was not only a strong supporter of LSSU and everything good that it represents, but that he could almost be called our 'unofficial ambassador.' I can't imagine a better ambassador for LSSU than Tiffany Jastorff."

Jastorff is the daughter of Mark and Kari Jastorff of Sault Ste. Marie, and Joel and Carol Gengler of Pierre, South Dakota.

The award is named for Judge James Fenlon, a member of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now MTU) board of control from 1957 to 1975. He was instrumental in advancing the MCMT Sault Ste. Marie branch from a two-year school to an autonomous four-year institution.

In a history of LSSU written by former LSSU President Kenneth Light, Judge Fenlon was recognized as a driving force behind LSSU's academic expansion.

"The appointment of Judge Fenlon added to the Michigan Tech Board of Control a man who was to have a profound effect on the future course of events concerning the branch operation," Light wrote. "Judge Fenlon was an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of the Sault Branch...and it was mainly due to his efforts that (LSSU) eventually achieved four-year status."

Fenlon graduated in 1927 from Sault High School. After attending Grand Rapids Junior College for two years, he attended the University of Detroit. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1937 and practiced law in the Sault until the early 1990s. In 1957, he was elected to the position of municipal judge and held that post until 1969, when restructuring of the court system replaced the municipal court with district court.

The Michigan Bar Association recognized Fenlon for being the longest practicing attorney in the state. He died March 13, 1996 at the age of 87.